Alpha’s Thrice Rejectedd Mate By Ida Rowe

Chapter 55

**Kora

As I made my way to An nalise’s chambers, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. I had been studying under her tutelage for a few weeks now. While I was grateful for the opportunity to learn from such an experienced Luna, we still hadn’t managed to work through our issues.

Hell, she hadn’t even apologized for sniping at my father a few days ago.

I knocked on her door, and after a moment, she opened it with a smile. “Kora, come in,” she said, motioning for me to enter. “I have some new documents for us to go over.”

wo over t

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I followed her inside, and we settled at a small table covered in papers and books. An nalise began to go different duties of a Luna, and I listened intently, taking notes as she spoke.

But as the hours passed, I couldn’t help but notice how critical she was of my every move. She would respond with annoyance whenever I asked a question as if I was wasting her time. At this point, maybe I was.

“You know, Kora, I can’t help but compare you to Giselle sometimes. She was so sharp and quick to learn, and you just seem to be struggling with even the most basic concepts.”

I felt my face flush with anger.

“I’m not Giselle,” I snapped. “And I’m doing the best I can. If you have a problem with my progress, maybe I should find someone else to teach me.”

I didn’t know who I would go to, but surely one of the other packs we were allied with would be willing. Oswald had been pushing for us to try opening communication with the Shadowmoon pack, but we’d been so focused on fixing everything here at home that we’d put it off. Maybe there was a former Luna among them that Deborah hadn’t killed or something.

An nalise looked taken aback by my outburst but quickly regained her composure. “Kora, I’m sorry if I came across as harsh. I just want you to succeed; sometimes tough love is the best way to get there.”

I knew she was trying to smooth things over, but I was still seething with anger.

“I don’t need tough love,” I said through gritted teeth. “I need someone who believes in me and is willing to help me grow. If you can’t do that, I’ll find someone who can.”

Without another word, I stood up and stormed out of her chambers. Walking down the hallway, I could feel tears pr ickling at the corners of my eyes. I had always been proud, but being compared to Giselle was too much for me to bear. Even gone, she was a shadow over my life, apparently. I’d never hated her as much as I did at that moment.

But as I rounded a corner, I nearly collided with Mason.

My mate frowned down at me, obviously sensing my distress. “What’s happened now?”

I grit my teeth, glaring up at him. Now? As if I had been doing nothing but causing issues? Briefly, I debated just shouldering by him and finding somewhere to be alone-it was arguably the better choice, seeing as I had yet again bumped heads with his wicked witch of a mother.

“Nothing. I’m just taking a break to get something to eat.”

He didn’t believe me, but he didn’t pressure me anymore.

I wasn’t sure if I liked the more reserved version of Mason that had come out since we’d defeated Lyle and

Deborah. Not that I had anticipated him staying a headstrong a*shole our whole lives-when we’d been kids, he d been devious but sweet, so I knew he was capable of evolving-but it was as if we had traded jobs.

Now, I was the one seconds from flying off the handle about things and barking in anger, and he was the one trying to gauge how to navigate my moods and come out unscathed.

Guilt tickled at me as I remembered how exhausting that had been, and I took a deep breath to steady myself.

“Join me?”

Mason raised an eyebrow at me, and I could see the amusement dancing in his eyes. “Is that an invitation, Kora?” he asked, a hint of a smirk on his l*ps.

I rolled my eyes, feeling a small smile tug at the corners of my own. “Of course it is. Do you really think I would let you starve?”

He chuckled, falling into step beside me as we made our way to the dining hall. “I don’t know. You’ve been pretty focused on your Luna duties lately.”

I huffed, playfully shoving him. “As if you haven’t been just as busy with pack business.”

We bantered back and forth, and I felt some of the tension from earlier start to dissipate. Being around Mason always had a way of calming me down, even when we were just teasing each other.

We went to the kitchen, grabbed food, and found a quiet table in the corner to eat together. I was sure An nalise would make a fuss about us eating where the ser vants did if she could see us, and the thought threatened to sour my mood again.

“You know, Kora, you have a way of making everything better,” Mason said suddenly, his gaze fixed on me.

I raised an eyebrow, feeling my cheeks heat up. “Is that so? And what do you mean by everything?”

He leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Well, for starters, my hunger. But also my mood, my day, my

life.”

I laughed, feeling a warm flutter in my chest. “You’re such a flirt, Mason

He shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. “Can you blame me? I’m just trying to keep up with you.”

I shook my head, still smiling. “You don’t have to keep up with me, Mason. I just want you to be yourself.”

He reached out, taking my hand in his. “And I want you to be yourself too, Kora. Even when you’re feisty and

stubborn.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “You love it when I’m feisty.”

He leaned in, his l*ps hovering just inches from mine. “I love everything about you,

Кога”

My breath caught in my throat as his l*ps brushed against mine, sending sparks through my b*dy. We pulled away, both of us grinning like idiots.

“Come on,” Mason said, standing up and pulling me with him. “Let’s go for a walk.”

We made our way out of the kitchen and into the courtyard, strolling hand in hand. The sun was just setting. casting a warm orange glow across the sky.

“I don’t know what I would do without you, Mason,” I said, leaning into him.

He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. “You’ll never have to find out, Kora. I’m not going anywhere.”

I smiled, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me. With Mason by my side, everything seemed possible. We walked silently for a while, just enjoying each other’s company.

“You know,” Mason said, breaking the silence, “I’ve been thinking about something lately.”

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s that?”

He stopped, turning to face me. “I think it’s time we start planning for the future, Kora. Our future.”

My heart sk ipped a beat, and I felt a surge of excitement. “What do you mean?”

Mason looked almost sheepish for a moment-shy, even-and I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes suspiciously.

“How do you feel about kids?”

I choked on my next inhale, letting out a hysterical-sounding giggle.

“Kids? Now?”

Mason shrugged, and I tried not to break into more laughter at the thought. We were so young, and our lives were still such a mess. What business did we have bringing babies into it?

“Maybe not right this instant.” His gaze burned as it rolled down my b*dy, and I tried not to squirm. “But sooner

rather than later.”

“I think we should table this conversation,” I said honestly, and he chuckled, seemingly unbothered by my immediate refusal.

“Fair enough. Just think about it, all right?” I would, even though I didn’t want to.

It just wasn’t the time.

With so many changes happening and An nalise refusing to acknowledge me as an acceptable Luna, tensions were too high to discuss bringing new life to our pack. Not to mention, we hadn’t been married for long, and we’d only barely handled the Shadowmoon pack debacle.

I wanted some time with just the two of us.

Was that too much to ask for?